12 Best Sleep Podcasts for Counting Sheep

Sometimes, catching some Zs isn't as easy as it's cut out to be.
Picture this: You have been tossing and turning all night, racking your brain for any home remedy that might be the key to getting a good night's sleep. The warm glass of milk, 10 milligrams of melatonin and pre-bedtime reading has barely gotten a yawn out of you. At this point, you've given up and begun scrolling through social media while watching those hours of sleep tick away.

Sound familiar? If you said yes, sleep podcasts might be the next best remedy for you! Like the name suggests, sleep podcasts are like your usual run-of-the-mill podcast, but with a certain goal in mind: making you fall asleep! This can be through the use of relaxing tones, ASMR, or even educational segments specifically meant to bore you to sleep!

While regular headphones may "do the trick" while going about your day-to-day tasks, we feel that we speak for everyone when we say that when falling asleep inevitably falls on that list, comfort is a must. That's where SleepPhones® headphones comes into play. Our patented "headphones in a headband" are built solely to significantly enhance the comfort of your listening experience, whether you are sleeping, working or anything in-between! Not to mention, when paired with our upcoming list of best sleep podcasts, falling asleep on the fly is as easy as counting sheep!

"OMG!!! I absolutely love these headphones. I wish I would have had them years ago. I listen to frequency subliminals at night and my old earbuds were killing me. Bought these and I sleep peacefully all night. I love them so much that I wake up and continue to listen. I can't wait to use them when I return to work. These are one of the best inventions ever made. And the best investment I've ever made. It was worth every cent. I've told all of my family and friends about it." -Thai, Aug. 3rd 2020

Without further introduction, let's take a look at our 12 favorite sleep podcasts for counting sheep:

Get Sleepy

Who doesn't love a good bedtime story? Hosted by Tom Jones (no, not that one), Get Sleepy is a story-based sleep podcast that focuses on using a unique combination of sleep meditation and storytelling as a means of creating the best show for guiding their viewers towards a nice, cozy sleep. Originating from a local radio show that followed the same formula, Tom went on to record many episodes for the mobile application Slumber before the team behind Get Sleepy launched their first episode under their new platform in November 2019. For those that love a good mix of meditation and good storytelling before bed, Get Sleepy will have you nodding off in no time.

I Can't Sleep

Do you remember those days back in high school when the classes seemed to drag on forever and you just couldn't keep your eyes open? The team behind I Can't Sleep does all too well and they have made it their goal to capture the very essence of those days into a podcast. From the history of cardboard to covering all there is to know about the wombat, I Can't Sleep is the best sleep podcast for those wanting to capture the glory days of falling asleep to the droning monotony of your favorite teacher.

Sleep With Me

Everybody knows at least one person that can't tell a straightforward story for the life of them. They will stray off from the original path of the story, starting off by telling you about their trip to their grandmother's house that weekend before immediately interjecting that story with another story about how they swear that they saw Bigfoot at their cousin's condo in Albuquerque, and so on. Well, Drew "Scooter" Ackermann wants Sleep with Me to be that person for you. Resembling the stereotypical ramblings of your dear old Grandad, Sleep With Me hopes to dispel any sense of the original plot of the episode by the time you doze off. With episode titles like "Gandalf and The Fellowship of Scooter" and "Lady Witchbeard Returns", there's no telling where Drew's story is going every episode!

Deep Into Sleep

Very rarely can we fall asleep while learning about why we can't fall asleep, but Dr. Yishan Xu has made that a reality. As both a licensed clinical psychologist and a board-certified sleep specialist, Dr. Xu uses each episode to explore the many different ailments that may affect the sleeping patterns of the average person, ranging from discussions on basic sleeping disorders to explaining how different lifestyle factors may play a part in developing said disorders. Through the assistance of many guests, Dr. Xu hopes to help reach the root of the problem for all listeners seeking answers about their sleeping habits, as well as offer them the knowledge needed to correct their habits for the better.

Sleep Whispers

Shhhhh! Turn up the calm and the quiet with Sleep Whispers. Using a combination of ASMR, educational material and meditation, Sleep Whispers works tirelessly, (ba-dum tss), to lull your "brain squirrels" right to sleep with bedtime stories, trivia, and more, all given to you in a calming and quiet manner. This exploration of hushed ramblings and audible sensations are essential for creating a specific tone ideal for learning up to the point of unconsciousness. Ultimately, Sleep Whispers is one of the best sleep podcasts for those with the eagerness to learn and the desperation to sleep.

Soul Sistas Sleep Meditation

Focusing on improving the overall health of all women of color, Soul Sistas Sleep Meditation focuses heavily on the usage of meditation as a means of helping their listeners simultaneously reach a higher state of being and making sure they get a good night's sleep while doing it. With some of their newest episodes focusing on intention meditation, growing pain visualizations/affirmation, and anger, Soul Sista's Sleep Meditation is easily the best sleep podcast when you want a nice dose of meditation with a heavy focus on representation for women of color.

Game of Drones

The night is dark and full of terrors. Many, like our old friend Drew Ackerman, can argue that insomnia is among the greatest of them. With Game of Drones, Drew makes lightning strike twice with a sleep podcast that is built entirely around his rants concerning the hit HBO Series Game of Thrones which, in turn, is based off George R. R. Martin's book series A Song of Ice and Fire. By recapping each episode in a monotonous yet mesmerizing tone, Drew can make anyone dream of the various violent power struggles of Westeros from the coziness of their own bed.

Goodnight, World!

Who says that sleep podcasts are just for the grown-ups? Goodnight, World! helps kids of all ages wind down and get ready for bed while hearing stories from Elmo, Big Bird, and all their friends on Sesame Street®! Each 20-minute-long segment features a new bedtime story that is centered entirely around having your child and the Sesame Street® cast tucked in and tuckered out for the night. For the parents that just can't seem to get their little ones to bed on time every night, Goodnight, World! may just be the answer to getting into a healthy bedtime routine!

On A Dark, Cold Night

For those insomniacs that find comfort in hearing about other things going bump in the night for a change, On A Dark, Cold Night offers a chilling alternative to the other entries on this list. Instead of lulling you into a sense of cozy drowsiness, creator Kristen Zaza aims to flip the script and give her audience what they want before bed: fear. Receiving high praise from all kinds of fans with episodes like "The Orbuculum", "Staring Contest" and the most recent Halloween special "Allhallowtide pt. 5," On A Dark, Cold Night will take you out of your comfort zone until the ever-encroaching need for sleep inevitably pulls you back in.

Sleepcasts by Headspace

Through the introduction of the Sleepcast, Headspace hopes to revolutionize what it truly means to be a sleep podcast. Where some podcasts may tell a story or guide you to sleep through meditation, Sleepcasts by Headspace hopes to take you on a tour. With each roughly hour-long Sleepcast, Headspace coaxes you into a deep slumber as you take a tour through an immersive, ever-changing landscape, complete with a soundtrack that would make even the most stubborn insomniac's eyes get heavy. In many ways, Sleepcasts by Headspace has proven itself to be a more transcendent experience compared to its sleep podcast counterparts, and is recommended to anyone whose mind needs new places to wander before bedtime.

Nocturne

"Under cover of darkness, our thoughts and feelings can take on strange new shapes, sometimes barely recognizable as our own." One of Nocturne's own opening lines serves as the best introduction one can provide for this unique and explorative view of the things that happen in the dark. Every month, Nocturne invites their listeners to take a walk on the dark side while perhaps learning more about both the mysteries of the shadows and the aspects of themselves only seen amidst the twilight hours. Nyctophiles and other darkness enthusiasts will feel right at home with Nocturne!

Sleepy

Sleepy creates an excellent sleep podcast based around celebrating classic and timeless pieces of literature. Every week, Otis Gray treats his listeners to a soothing, somewhat hypnotic reading of some of the most acclaimed pieces ever known including The Great Gatsby, Frankenstein, Beowulf, and many others. Otis's monotonous voice paired with the reading material of the night is the perfect combination for a sleep podcast that can keep you hanging on the edge of your bed for just one more chapter, or have you sleeping before the second chapter rolls around. Not to mention, for those desperate for sleep but still eager to have Otis's voice lead them there, Sleepy also features direct readings from both The Dictionary and The Thesaurus! Either way, Sleepy is one of the best sleep podcasts when it comes to winning over the hearts of bookworms and seasoned sleep podcast veterans alike!